merge dev into master for v0.43.0 release (#1573)

Following the release guide,
> Create a new branch from dev, and open a PR to merge the new branch
into master. Once merged in, ensure that master subsequently builds
successfully.

This merges all changes from `dev` that occured for the release of
`v0.43.0` PL ecosystem.

PR is a follow up to #1572 where
we updated dependencies in `dev`. This PR was created with,
- Make branch after pulling latest `dev`
- Create PR targeting master

⚠️ Manually updated the `constraints-stable.txt` to match the
`constraints-dev.txt` so that they build correctly. Also had to manually
update all of the metadata so that the date of last modification is
today.

⚠️ This branch was tested against all demos here:
https://github.com/PennyLaneAI/qml/actions/runs/18546834983

---------

Co-authored-by: Christina Lee <chrissie.c.l@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: Yushao Chen (Jerry) <chenys13@outlook.com>
Co-authored-by: GitHub Nightly Merge Action <actions@github.com>
Co-authored-by: Simone Gasperini <simone.gasperini4@unibo.it>
Co-authored-by: Alex Preciado <alex.preciado@xanadu.ai>
Co-authored-by: Alan Martin <alan.martin@xanadu.ai>
Co-authored-by: Alan Martin <53958929+Alan-eMartin@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Isaac De Vlugt <isaacdevlugt@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: Isaac De Vlugt <34751083+isaacdevlugt@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Paul Finlay <50180049+doctorperceptron@users.noreply.github.com>

Author: 10 people

.github/workflows/v2-build-demos.yml

@@ -176,11 +176,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v4
         with:
-          python-version: '3.10'
+          python-version: '3.11'
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: pip install . && poetry config warnings.export false
-      
+
       - name: Make demo name list
         id: demo-name-list
         run: printf "demo-names=%s" "$(jq -nc '${{ needs.generate-build-variables.outputs.chunk-array }}[${{ matrix.chunk-index }}][]' | tr -s '\n"' ' ')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT

.github/workflows/v2-deploy-demos.yml

@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v4
         with:
-          python-version: '3.10'
+          python-version: '3.11'
 
       - name: Install python requirements
         run: pip install -r .github/workflows/qml_pipeline_v2/requirements.txt

.github/workflows/v2-deploy-pr.yml

@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@ jobs:
           comment="### Your preview is ready :tada:!\n\n"
           comment+="You can view your changes [here](https://pennylane.ai/qml/demonstrations?pr=${{ needs.prepare-build-context.outputs.pr_id }})\n\n"
 
+          comment+="> Deployed at: $(date +'%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') UTC\n\n"
+
           echo "markdown=$comment" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       - name: Generate Markdown Comment for Failed Deployment
@@ -117,6 +119,8 @@ jobs:
           comment+="There was an issue deploying your changes. Please check the related `v2-deploy-pr` logs for more details.\n\n"
           comment+="If you need assistance, please reach out to the team.\n\n"
 
+          comment+="> Attempted deployment at: $(date +'%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') UTC\n\n"
+
           echo "markdown=$comment" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       - name: Comment on PR

.github/workflows/v2-sync-objects-dot-inv.yml

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v4
         with:
-          python-version: '3.10'
+          python-version: '3.11'
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: pip install . && poetry config warnings.export false

.github/workflows/v2-validate-demo-metadata.yml

@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v4
         with:
-          python-version: '3.10'
+          python-version: '3.11'
 
       - name: Install Poetry
         id: poetry

conf.py

@@ -23,12 +23,7 @@
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath("."))
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
 
-# This module has been refactored from pennylane v0.41.0 to v0.42.0
-# This can be removed after the release of v0.42.0
-try:
-    from pennylane.exceptions import PennyLaneDeprecationWarning
-except ModuleNotFoundError:
-    from pennylane import PennyLaneDeprecationWarning
+from pennylane.exceptions import PennyLaneDeprecationWarning
 
 # -- Project information -----------------------------------------------------
 # General information about the project.

demonstrations_v2/ahs_aquila/demo.py

@@ -520,9 +520,10 @@ def gaussian_fn(p, t):
 params = [amplitude_params]
 ts = [0.0, 1.75]
 
-default_qubit = qml.device("default.qubit", wires=3, shots=1000)
+default_qubit = qml.device("default.qubit", wires=3)
 
 
+@qml.set_shots(1000)
 @qml.qnode(default_qubit, interface="jax")
 def circuit(parameters):
     qml.evolve(global_drive)(parameters, ts)
@@ -554,7 +555,7 @@ def circuit(params):
     return qml.counts()
 
 
-circuit_qml = qml.QNode(circuit, default_qubit, interface="jax")
+circuit_qml = qml.set_shots(qml.QNode(circuit, default_qubit, interface="jax"), shots = 1000)
 circuit_ahs = qml.QNode(circuit, rydberg_simulator)
 
 print(f"PennyLane simulation: {circuit_qml(params)}")

demonstrations_v2/ahs_aquila/metadata.json

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     "executable_stable": false,
     "executable_latest": false,
     "dateOfPublication": "2023-05-16T00:00:00+00:00",
-    "dateOfLastModification": "2025-09-22T15:48:14+00:00",
+    "dateOfLastModification": "2025-10-15T00:00:00+00:00",
     "categories": [
         "Quantum Hardware",
         "Devices and Performance",

demonstrations_v2/getting_started_with_hybrid_jobs/demo.py

@@ -345,10 +345,9 @@ def qpu_qubit_rotation_hybrid_job(num_steps=10, stepsize=0.5):
     device = qml.device(
         "braket.aws.qubit",
         device_arn=device_arn.value,  # Make sure the device ARN matches the hybrid job device ARN
-        wires=2,
-        shots=1_000,
-    )
+        wires=2)
 
+    @qml.set_shots(1_000)
     @qml.qnode(device)
     def circuit(params):
         qml.RX(params[0], wires=0)

demonstrations_v2/getting_started_with_hybrid_jobs/metadata.json

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     "executable_stable": false,
     "executable_latest": false,
     "dateOfPublication": "2023-10-16T00:00:00+00:00",
-    "dateOfLastModification": "2025-09-22T15:48:14+00:00",
+    "dateOfLastModification": "2025-10-15T00:00:00+00:00",
     "categories": [
         "Devices and Performance"
     ],